Electric furnace



asept? 1929- P. L. .11. MIGUET 1,728,070

ELECTRI C FURNACE Filed Dec. 23; 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept: 10 R9290 P. L. J. MEGUET ELECTRIC FURNACE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. .23, 1,927

$eptfl 10, 1929 P. L. J. MIGUET ELECTRIC FURNA E Filed Dec. 23, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL LOUIS JOSEPH MIGUET, OF ST. JULIEN-DE-MAURIENNE, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SOCIETE ELECTROMETALLURGIQUE DE MONTRICHEB, F ST.-J'ULIEN-DE- ELECTRIC FURNACE.

Application filed December 23, 1927, Serial No. 242,228, and in France December 28, 1926.

and left and right handed controlling screw.

The present invention'relates to improvements in such open or closed furnaces more especially to the construction of the conducting screen, to the contact plates and to their position with respect tothe screen to.

the mounting of the-electrode and to the retaining ring.

These improvements are characterized by (a) the conducting screen being formed bimetallic by forming the lower portion of cast-iron instead of bronze (b) the collar of the conducting screen being enlarged to allow the contact plates to ,follow the screen at least to the end of the collar (0) the support being strengthenedon the upper side y a secondsupport arranged-to hold the electrode elastically in the holder.

The advantages of the improvements are (a) the initial expenses are'considerably reduced whilst allowing for the repair of the 85 screen without moving the conductors, (b) the electrode being mounted so that it can not redden inside the screen and therefore burn therein, no enlargement of the electrode collar space is to befeared even if the arc works at a very high radiation, (0) shocks being eliminated due to periodical or accidental movements of the contact plates it is possible to employ very large electrodes up to four metres in diameter.

The present invention also relates to other improvements characterized in that (a) the conducting screen and its flexible leads are done away with by bringing the current direct to the retaining ring, (12) this ring being employed to balance the electrode by connecting it exclusively to antagonistic members independent of the holder, and (c) the operation of the plate screws is performed pneumatically by compressed air engines respectively operatively connected to the upper cylindrical nuts.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a vertical section on line 11 Fig. 2 and a plan, the second supporting ring not being shown.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical section online 3-3 Fig. 4 and a plan of the seeond supporting ring provided with the usual spring connection.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of an oil brake for use on very large electrodes.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of an electrode for igneous electrolysis the current being brought directly to the retaining ring.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a vertical section and plan of an electro-thermic electrode with the retaining ring for the plates held by means independent of the supports.

Figs. 9 and 10 are a vertical section and elevation of 90 to each other, of a compressed air arrangement for moving the contact plates.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the conducting screen comprises a bronze portion 35 for the good conduction of current and a lower cast iron portion 36 which is cheap and readily replaced having a collar not around the electrode 10 but on one end of suitably elongated plates 22 the whole being assembled in sectors and cooled in the ordinary way with in addition magnetic insulation between the cast iron elements.

The drawings also show that the plates 22 are connected together to ensure the air tightness of the mounting arran ement by the deposit from the products whilst a assageway 37 tapering towards the to al ows for the driving back of paste ands eet for the substitution of a plastic electrode for a solid one, this substitution only being possible after modifying the bracket 24 to allow the slight reversing of the plates necessitated by the larger diameter at the entry and exit.

The second supporting ring shown in Figs.

3 and 4 comprises a soft steel ring 38 aflixed to the electrode 10 by nuts 39 tightened by screws 40 against stops 41. Lugs 42 are elasmanently affixed to the rods 34, are formed with a hole 48 for regulating the passage of oil from one compartment to the other and consequently the sliding speed of the electrode.

The sliding of the electrode being effected and the contact plates 22 being jammed end 53 which is displaced axially afresh the screws 40 are loosened to allow the ring 38 to rise under the pressure of the Bellville ring 44 then retightened afresh for the subsequent sliding.

The invention is equally applicable to closed furnaces, in which case a connection must be made between the arch and the collar of the conducting screen.

Fig. 6 shows how for a relatively small wear and tear in height as is the case for aluminium the retaining ring 26 preferably of bronze cooled by a water circulation 61 is carried by the known conducting cylinder 3 as shown to transmit the current to the con tact plates without using flexible conductors.

Figs. 7 and 8 show that the electrode 25 is carried by bolts 55 which are prolonged inside the electrode a metal frame the usual suspension rods 34 for the ring 26 which is preferably water cooled by a circulation 61 are kept away by the joining members 49 so that they may be connected for instance, respectively to the moving elements of recuperator brakes 50 of usual systems. This apparatus which is connected to the cylinder 3 which carries a conducting case 1, may be replaced by oil presses with storage chambers or by a counter-Weighting arrangement.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the known one-eyed nut 29 prolonged with quick thread 51 thereon screwing into a piston 52 having a square in the cylinder 54 by compressed air entering through ports 56. The piston rod slides through a square gland 57 aflixed in position on the cyl inder mounting 59 by bolts 58 which is itself operatlvely connected to the cylindrical nut 30 carried by the plate 22. Thus the move ment of the piston rotates the two screwed rods 51, 29 and therefore causes the jamming or loosening of the plates 22. If the screws of the guide 57 are taken out and the compressed air inlets opened the piston is free in the cylinder and may lie-operated by hand by rotating the square rod 60.

The conducting case could be more economical and less cumbersome only by suppressing it with its flexible conductors whenever a suflicient stability for the electrode can be obtained, for instance in igneous controlling them at thesame time by a simple compressed air valve.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters atent is 1. An electrode mounting for electric fur..- naces of the type referred to, comprising in combination a conducting screen having a lower portion provided with an opening, conducting plates for the electrode, extending through said opening, the said opening being enlarged to allow for the passage of the conducting plates to prevent burning of the electrode inside the screen, a retaining ring, means to facilitate the sliding movement of the electrode, means for balancing the electrode and means for controlling the position of the conducting plates.

2. An electrode mounting for electric furnaces of the type referred to comprising in combination a conducting screen having a lower portion provided with an opening, conducting plates for the electrode extending through said opening, the said opening being enlarged to allow for the passage of the conducting plates to prevent burning of the electrode inside the screen, a retaining ring, a resiliently mounted auxiliary supporting ring connecting the electrode to the supporting rod to facilitate the sliding movement of the electrode.

3. An electrode mounting for electric furnaces of the type referred to comprising in combination, a conducting screen having a lower portion provided with an opening, conducting plates for the electrode, extend ing through said opening, the said opening being enlarged to allow for the passage of the conducting plates to prevent burning of the electrode inside the screen, and a retaining ring used for balancing the electrode by connecting it exclusively to antagonistic means independent of the holder and exerting a suitable balancing strain.

4. An electrode mounting for electric furnaces of the class referred to, comprising a conducting screen having a lower portion provided with an opening and a collar around said opening, conducting plates for the electrode extending through said opening, the said opening and the collar being imaovo enlarged to allow for the passage of the con ducting plates to prevent burnin of the electrode inside the screen, a retaining ring means to facilitate the sliding movement of the electrode, ans for balancing the electrode, and means for controlling the position of the conducting plates.

In witness whereof I aflix m signature PAUL LOUIS J OSEP MIGUETQ 

